Amtrak investigating problem that left passengers stuck in Old Saybrook

An Amtrak spokesman said Wednesday that trackside infrastructure may have been to blame for the problems that led to a 4½-hour delay for passengers stuck in Old Saybrook on Tuesday.

A train bound for Boston with 185 passengers broke down at the Old Saybrook train station at about 6:36 p.m. Passengers were transferred to a second train which also became disabled. A third train left the station at 11 p.m.

Amtrak spokesman Craig Schulz said that the reason the trains became disabled is still under investigation, but officials are looking closely at the possibility that equipment such as transponders, which send and receive information to the train, was to blame.

Shulz said there have not been any further issues in the area.

Passengers were able to wait at the train station. Amtrak is “looking out for the best interests of the passengers to make sure they are comfortable,” Shulz said.

“We really do assess these types of situations on a case-by-case basis and do whatever we can to accommodate passengers,” Shulz said.